What’s the Average Cost of a Bathroom Remodel in 2024

Remodeling a bathroom is a breath of fresh air into your home, making it a comfortable and relaxing sanctuary, but be warned that it won’t be cheap. Of course, you can cut costs by monitoring certain expenses, but in general, a small bathroom remodel will cost about $3,000-$7,000 dollars. A large bathroom can easily run upwards of $8,000-$10,000 dollars. Here is the cost break down by bathroom item:

• Bathroom Floors
• Bathroom Walls
• Bathtubs
• Bathroom Sinks
• Shower
• Lighting
• Toilet
• Decor
• Common Remodeling Questions

Here, you can find the cost breakdown of a bathroom remodel:

Cost by Type

The type of bathroom you have will also affect your remodel costs. Generally, master baths are much more expensive than something smaller like a powder or half bath. 

Master Bathroom

A master bathroom remodel generally fluctuates between $5000-25,000 depending on the nature of the remodel. The reason why a master bath is so expensive is because the space is generally much larger compared to other bathrooms in a home. Additionally, remodels will require demolition of existing structures and installing new ones which can drastically impact costs.

Powder Room

A powder or half bathroom remodel costs anywhere from $1800-5,000 depending on the nature of the remodel. This is because most half baths are generally quite small and their remodel does not require large scale demolition or installation. 

Guest bath

Guest baths fall in the middle, averaging anywhere from $5000-12,000 depending on the size and scale of the remodel. Guest bathrooms are generally not that expensive as they do not see heavy foot traffic and their additions do not require large-scale demolition and removal compared to other bathroom remodels. 

Bathroom Floors Cost: $600-$3,600

The key to any successful remodeling job is the flooring. Without proper flooring, the rest of your bathroom construction project will quickly flounder. Unfortunately, this step in the remodeling process is also the lengthiest and most time-consuming. While it isn’t exactly heavy on the budget, with an average cost of $600-$1500 dollars, you will need to hire a professional or research which materials fit your budget and decor if you plan a DIY.

Luckily, there are many options on the market for just about any budget out there. Common materials for flooring consist of cork, glass tiles, carpet tiles, concrete, engineered hardwood, and laminate.

Cork Flooring

Cork is an eco-friendly option that is soft and warm on bare feet. It can inherently resist mold but will deteriorate over time. Therefore, extended contact to moisture may weaken the cork core even though the cork surface may repel water.

Glass Tiles

Glass Tiles are made of tiles that interlock, and their surfaces are easy to clean as well as slip-resistant. The negatives of glass tiles are that they are not very durable to heavy impacts, so take care not to drop anything on them.

Carpet tiles

Carpet tiles are tiles that are eco-friendly and non-toxic with squares made from carpet and rugs, removing any danger of slipping or sliding. However, this material will inevitably tract moisture. 

Concrete Flooring 

Concrete flooring is versatile, durable, and water-resistant. Quite similar to stone-it also absorbs heat, the only negative to this durable material is that it’s quite heavy and a pricier when compared to other materials on the market.

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered Hardwood is formed by bonding layers of hardwood together that removes many of the negatives of natural wood, such as their porous nature. Though, overall, it is not recommended for a busy bath with a substantial amount of water use as it will warp over time. 

Laminate

Finally, we have Laminate, which is made by bonding wood chips together, then covered with a layer of tile. The negatives of this material are that it isn’t natural wood, and will eventually warp and disfigure over time. 

How to choose the right bathroom flooring option?

Price-wise, many of these materials are quite similar, so ultimately, your choice should largely depend on a few factors:

• Aesthetic of the material. It’s the floor of your bathroom and something you and other guests will have to walk on regularly. 
• Choose a material that is comfortable to your bare feet and within your budget.
• Porous nature of the material. While wood and cork floor tiles are aesthetically pleasing, this is your bathroom, an area that will deal with heavy moisture and condensation, which means that over time, it can quickly develop rot and lead to structural mishaps along with carrying some unwanted odors.

Bathroom Walls Cost: $300-$800

Similar to your floor, walls provide an essential support structure for your bathroom that should not be overlooked. As with flooring, your aim should be for a material that is both waterproof and moisture resistant.

Common types are Peelable vinyl wallpaper, Bathroom paint, Ceramic or Glass Tile, Beadboard, and finally Tileboard.

Peelable Vinyl Wallpaper

Peelable Vinyl wallpaper is a 100% waterproof wallpaper that can be applied easily to most surfaces making it relatively inexpensive, coming in at an average of .20-.40 cents per square feet, but the cost does add up over time.

The negatives of it being that some types of it do not respond well to direct moisture, so research accordingly.

Bathroom Paint

Next is bathroom paint, which is a special kind of paint more suited for bathroom use, which makes it more expensive than standard paint because it contains mildew and mold repellent properties. It can be applied to any surface, giving you added flexibility. Cost-wise, you are looking to spend about $5-$7 dollars per square feet, roughly around $600-$800 dollars on the high end, making it a bit pricey. 

Ceramic or Glass Tiles

Ceramic or Glass tiles are tiles that are installed similar to floor tiles, except on a vertical surface instead of horizontal.

Comparatively, this option is also a bit pricey as you are looking at around $300-$600 dollars per wall, depending largely on size. The benefit, however, is that the interlocking tiles are completely waterproof, and the sealing agent will deter most bacteria and mold build up. 

Beadboards

Similarly, Beadboards are installed lengthwise and are boards that cover the lower half of your bathroom wall.

These boards protect your wall from direct moisture and are relatively cheap coming in at .50-1.00 per square feet depending on the material. The only real negative to them is their aesthetic, which is a bit more classic in appearance and may clash with a more modern bathroom aesthetic.

Tileboard

Lastly is Tileboard, which is a medium density fiberboard with a hard melamine layer on top. While the front of the material is water resistant, the sides are not, so correct installation is critical. The material is inexpensive, coming in at $0.50-$2.00 per square feet, though ostensibly you get what you pay for as the material is more decorative than structurally sound. Depending on how large the walls of your bathroom are, this step will also be a bit more time consuming compared to other parts of your bathroom remodel, but quicker than your flooring job, so roughly a few days.

Bathtub Cost: $200-$2,500+

Now onto a more vibrant centerpiece of your bathroom, the bathtub. Though it is quite tempting to spring for a freestanding copper bathtub off the bat, consider that proper research should be down for which material is appropriate for your budget and needs. In general, there are two types of bathtubs: Freestanding and Drop-in. Drop-in is generally cheaper, ranging from $200 dollars on the low end to around $1,500 on the high end.

Drop-ins are slightly easier to install but are more limited in choices when it comes to materials. Freestanding bathtubs are a bit more pricey, starting at around 500 on the low end and around 2,000 on the high end, though stylistically, freestanding will always win. Compared to walling and flooring, installing a bathtub is quite easy, as once the plumbing is sorted out, you simply just drop your bathtub where is desired in your bathroom, giving this project no more than a day.

Bathroom Sinks Cost: $200-$2,000

Similar to a bathtub, sinks provide a wonderful accent to your bathroom while being of excellent use as well. There are quite a few materials to choose from and what you ultimately decide on will depend on your budget as well as the aesthetics of your bathroom. There are several types of sinks; Drop in, Freestanding, Integrated, Corner, and Wall mounted sinks. Drop ins are sinks that are installed by simply ‘dropping in’ your sink into a cutout space. These are the middle ground, providing ease of installation at a reasonable cost along with a wide variety of choices in material.

On average, this is what you’re expected to pay depending on the sink type:

• Drop-ins – $90 – $800 
• Freestanding sinks – $300 starting – $800+ 
• Integrated sinks – $400 – $800 
• Corner sinks – $450 – $800
• Wall-mounted sinks – $250 – $600

Drop-ins are the most common choice for most homeowners. Freestanding sinks are sinks that are installed directly on a wall and are supported by stands or legs. Integrated sinks are sinks made from the same material as your countertop; the obviously negative is that these are usually custom jobs and as such run a hefty price tag.

Corner sinks (also called countertop sinks) are sinks that are installed usually on top or under a cabinet, these are usually oval or trapezoidal in shape so they can be tucked neatly in a corner.

And finally, wall-mounted sinks, which are sinks that are mounted on your wall with additional braces, giving you more space in your bathroom as well as being wheelchair friendly in design. As with your bathtub, installing a sink is an expedient process as once the plumbing and space is sorted out, you simply can install it within a few hours.

Bathroom Shower Cost: $200-$4,000

Another excellent alternative for the bathtub in your bath space, is a vibrant and striking shower. Of course, choosing a new shower comes down to your own personal preference as well as your budget. The two primary types of showers are prefabricated and custom. 

Prefabricated Shower

Prefabricated will undoubtedly be much cheaper as these start at around 200 and can go up to around 1500 with the additional benefit of being much easier to install, though you have very little options when it comes to materials and sizing.

Customized Shower

Custom showers, on the other hand, offers a wide variety of choice. Though that choice comes with a heavy price tag as without labor, many of these showers will start at around $2,500 on the low end and can easily go to $4,000 depending on what you want for your shower. 

Overall, this step may be a bit more time consuming depending on if you want a custom shower job as you may want to hire a professional to oversee this step, placing this job at roughly a week.

Bathroom Lighting Costs: $120-$1,700

The proper lighting can change any small broom closet into a vibrant and radiant bathroom. As with anything else though, it is important to note which lighting method is more appropriate for your bath space. There are three primary lighting styles for your bathroom: 

• Ambient lighting or general lighting is meant to illuminate the entire room, usually through a ceiling light. 
• Task lighting is bright and more directional, usually in the way of a vanity light or a mirror light.
• Accent lighting provides a warm glow to your space, usually to counterbalance the first two lighting sources. 

In general, lighting fixtures will run an average of $200 and can go up to 600-700 depending on the size of the light you desire and how many lights you want in your bathroom. Depending on that, installation should not take more than a few hours.

Bathroom Toilet Cost: $250-$1,000

Often overlooked, but one of the most important features of any bathroom is the toilet. Toilets come in many shapes and sizes but the primary two on the market are gravity-fed and pressure-assist toilets. 

Gravity-fed Toilets

Gravity-fed are the dominant toilets on the market as they are quiet and as their name suggest, they rely on gravity to pull the water and waste downwards. As they are the more common, their only problem is that they are more prone to clogs and some may not have enough water pressure to dispose all waste.

Pressure-assist Toilets

On the other side is Pressure-assist which uses water compressed air to create pressure that pushes down all waste. This is incredibly useful in busy households with heavy bathroom use, but these toilets are also incredibly noisy and much more expensive than gravity-fed toilets. Average range for these toilets starts at 300 for the low end and can easily climb to 1,200 on the high end.

Remodeling your toilet is a bit more complicated than your previous plumbing fixtures as this time, you must rework your sewage drain and piping, which come with additional risk, so it would be best if you are new to this to consult a professional when it comes to installing a new toilet. On average, this project should take no more than a week at most.

Bathroom Décor Cost: $100+

An often overlooked part of your bathroom, but an essential part of it nonetheless, as adding any décor to your bathroom can change how it feels in a more positive light. Now, when it comes to décor, many options are available to you and there is no right or wrong answer. Wall art, large mirrors, wall accents-your imagination is your limit when it comes to decorating your bathroom.

Be creative in your design and have a bit more liberty as décor can literally be anything that appeals to you aesthetically and is quite easy to install and remove at a moments notice.

How to save money on a remodel?

Doing it yourself is one of the most economical methods to cut costs on a bathroom remodel. Your ability and experience will determine what tasks you can take on. These are just a few ideas on how to save money by doing a part of bathroom remodel on your own:

• Paint the walls, cabinets, or fixtures
• Install tile in the shower, bathtub, or walls
• Install new plumbing fixtures
• Replace shower heads, faucets, and knobs
• Install light fixtures

Make a plan and budget for your bathroom renovation before you begin removing the outdated tiling or unscrewing any knobs. Any updates, replacements, or additions you would like to make to the bathroom should be included in your plan and budget.

Restocking fees are often associated with product exchanges and returns, which is an easy way to drive up expenses. Your contractor may charge more for the additional time they need to spend handling returns.

Rearranging the room’s dimensions and moving plumbing equipment may prove to be the most costly renovation project. It involves tearing down walls and re-roughing the plumbing, which puts load-bearing walls at danger.

By leaving the fixtures where they are and utilizing the existing water and drain hookup, you can save a lot of money. 

Remodel jobs come down to experience and many waste money on frivolous ideas that may not add to the value of the bathroom. So plan accordingly-measure every space and only use as much material is required. 50 cents for a square foot of wallpaper may not seem like much, but overtime, it can add up if you are not careful. Also, while many of your fixtures can be less than high end, do not skimp on your supporting structures such as flooring and walling.

Additional Price Factors

When it comes to remodeling your bathroom, there are a few price considerations:

Electrical Additions

Electricity is a must for any bathroom remodel, and changing elements of your bathroom will require an electrician to inspect your new setup and create a new configuration. When planning your remodel, avoid changing too much, as this can be quite expensive. 

Floor Plan Changes/Demolition

During your remodel, you will remove a significant aspect of your current setup to make way for new additions. Remember that all removal and installation will come with a price, so factor that into your overall remodel costs. If you can avoid it, attempt to keep the plumbing and electrical connections intact during demolition. 

Ada-compliance Additions

If you are intent on adding Ada-compliance additions to your bathroom, they will come with an added costs. These can be something as simple as handlebars or electrical switches and activators. However, you may need to configure your plumbing and electrical setup to support these additions.

Installation and Labor

As stated previously, installation and labor is a heavy part of the installation cost. Depending on the size of your project, you can look to spend a sizeable amount on labor costs, so try to accomplish some elements by yourself. However, do not endanger yourself over a few dollars, so try to find a healthy balance between using professional labor and accomplishing the remodel yourself. 

Permits

If you are intent on making any significant changes to your home, you will need to sort out permits with the city. This can be time-consuming, but it is an important element of your remodel. You cannot continue with your remodel until you have attained an approval from the city. 

Plumbing Changes

Plumbing is an important aspect of any bathroom remodel, and your plumbing needs to be sorted out first before any major fixtures are installed. If you are intent on changing anything, you will need your plumber to organize a new setup which can be costly. For this reason, avoid making any significant changes to your plumbing during your remodel.

How much value does a bathroom remodel add to my home?

A proper bathroom model done right can easily net you an increase of around $18,000, with most recovering about 66% of any cost you have placed in the remodeling of your home. Generally, if you can help it, DIY methods will allow you to at least make a profit on most remodel jobs, but keep in mind that it will vary largely on the market.

DIY vs Professional

Despite common misconceptions, there are many things you can DIY, and you should, as outside of a learning curve, it will be much more cost-effective than hiring a professional. These include installing your sink, bathtub, any accents, and your flooring. Others, such as installing a custom shower, removing and re-inserting walls and installing your toilet should be left to a professional as there are specific guidelines you must follow when it comes to safety and health standards.

Eric Jensen

Eric is the founder and president of Badeloft USA. He has been the president of Badeloft’s US division for over ten years and oversees all marketing and branding aspects of Badeloftusa.com.
His expertise lies in small business development, sales, and home and bathroom industry trends and information.

Contact us with any business related inquiries.